Election Administration

The right to vote depends on the ability to vote. For democracy to function properly, local, state, and federal governments must foster an election system that achieves the highest standards of accuracy, convenience, efficiency, and security. This requires nonpartisan research that examines the most pressing election problems as well as efforts to help states improve election administration. Pew works with state and local officials, the private sector, and others to identify and implement efficient, cost-effective solutions to voter registration issues, voting information obstacles, and election performance.

Our Work

All

The Voting Information Project (VIP), an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts, is a collaboration with the states, Google, and other private sector partners to ensure that Americans have the official information they need to cast a ballot, including where to vote and what candidates and initiatives are on the ballot. Read More

In every state and the District of Columbia—except North Dakota—individuals who plan to vote in a federal election must first register to vote. However, a sizable share of eligible citizens do not register. Official statistics vary, but a conservative estimate, calculated using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent Voting and Registration Supplement, indicates that 21.4... Read More

Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau released its biennial Voting and Registration Supplement in response to the November 2016 federal elections. These data have been compiled and analyzed every two years since 1964, and the new numbers offer insight into the voting behaviors of an expanding American electorate. Read More

Every two years, following a federal election, the U.S. Census Bureau releases supplementary demographic information on who did and did not register to vote, as well as methods of registration. Last week, the bureau released data on the November 2016 election that demonstrate an expanding electorate and highlight important trends. Read More

Research & Analysis

The Voting Information Project (VIP), an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts, is a collaboration with the states, Google, and other private sector partners to ensure that Americans have the official information they need to cast a ballot, including where to vote and what candidates and initiatives are on the ballot. Read More

In every state and the District of Columbia—except North Dakota—individuals who plan to vote in a federal election must first register to vote. However, a sizable share of eligible citizens do not register. Official statistics vary, but a conservative estimate, calculated using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent Voting and Registration Supplement, indicates that 21.4... Read More

Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau released its biennial Voting and Registration Supplement in response to the November 2016 federal elections. These data have been compiled and analyzed every two years since 1964, and the new numbers offer insight into the voting behaviors of an expanding American electorate. Read More

Every two years, following a federal election, the U.S. Census Bureau releases supplementary demographic information on who did and did not register to vote, as well as methods of registration. Last week, the bureau released data on the November 2016 election that demonstrate an expanding electorate and highlight important trends. Read More

News

On Thursday, Dec. 8, The Pew Charitable Trusts will host its Voting in America Summit. The event will bring together academics, advocates, campaigns, and administrators in the elections field to discuss the evolution of voting administration over the past four years. Read More

WASHINGTON—With the election less than two weeks away, the Voting Information Project (VIP)—a partnership among The Pew Charitable Trusts, Google, and the states, along with the Internet Association and the world’s top technology companies—launched Get to the Polls (www.GetToThePolls.com) to provide voters with information about polling place locations, hours of operation,... Read More

Live in Denver: Join Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper on Oct. 14 as he kicks off a series of discussions on evidence-based governing, with a special focus on election administration and tax incentives. Read More

We look forward to seeing you at the NCSL Legislative Summit. Visit our booth in the exhibit hall (#929) to learn about our work across all 50 states, meet policy experts, and spin the wheel to find answers about your state’s fiscal health. Read More

Multimedia

Electronic poll books (also e-poll books, or EPBs) are digitized voter registries, used in lieu of paper voter lists at polling places to check in voters on Election Day or during early voting. E-poll books can also perform a variety of additional functions that paper rolls cannot, such as ballot production, same-day registration, and verification of ballot totals after polls close. Jurisdictions... Read More

Every election, millions of Americans search for answers for basic voting questions: "Where do I vote?" "What's on my ballot?" The Voting Information Project (VIP)—a partnership between The Pew Charitable Trusts, Google, and states—has the answers. Read More

Online voter registration saves taxpayer dollars, increases the accuracy of voter rolls, and provides a convenient way for Americans to register or update their information. The Pew Charitable Trusts monitors and surveys states that implement or continue to offer online voter registration. Overall, the responses indicate that online registration is cost-effective for states, easy for voters, and... Read More

The Voting Information Project (VIP) works with states to ensure that Americans can easily find official voting information where they look for it most: online. VIP, a partnership of The Pew Charitable Trusts, Google, and states, aims to ensure that voters have the answers they need to basic questions such as, "Where is my polling place?" "What's on my ballot?" and "How do I navigate the voting... Read More

About The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and invigorate civic life.

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